Smart Thermostats for Vacation Homes: A Comprehensive Guide
Revolutionizing Vacation Home Automation with Smart Thermostats
Smart thermostats are transforming vacation home automation by offering unmatched convenience, energy savings, enhanced comfort, and peace of mind. This guide explores the critical role of smart thermostats in vacation homes, especially when unoccupied for long periods or located in regions with extreme temperatures.
The Risks of Extreme Climates
In extreme climates, HVAC systems face increased wear and tear. A heating system failure in winter or an air conditioning malfunction in summer can lead to expensive repairs and property damage. For instance, frozen pipes can burst, causing water damage, while excessive heat may harm electronics and other belongings.
A Neighbor’s Costly Experience
Our neighbors once forgot to shutoff their water pump after visiting their vacation home in February for a local winter festival. Their furnace later failed, freezing the pipes. Upon thawing, these pipes flooded their home, resulting in thousands of dollars in damage.
If they had a smart thermostat or temperature alarm installed that sent alerts it would have saved them a lot of money and grief.
For more insights on advanced temperature, humidity, power monitoring device, see Preventing Vacation Home Disasters with Intelligent Monitoring.
The Importance of Reliable Internet Connectivity
For remote control and receiving alerts, reliable internet connectivity is essential. It enables effective monitoring and quick response to any changes in your vacation home’s environment.
For more insights on internet connectivity, see Choosing the Best Connectivity Option for Your Vacation Home
Reviewing Top Smart Thermostat Contenders
In this post, I review the key features, ease of use, installation, and the importance of the Common “C” wire requirement for three leading smart thermostats: the ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium, Google Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd Generation), and Honeywell Home RTH9600WF Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat.
Understanding Smart Thermostats’ Capabilities
Smart thermostats, equipped with Wi-Fi connectivity, enable remote control and access through mobile apps. This means you can monitor and adjust your vacation home’s temperature from anywhere in the world, ensuring it’s always at the ideal temperature for your arrival.
These innovative devices do more than just remote control; they learn from your preferences, adapting to ensure your vacation home maintains the ideal temperature.
Benefits of Remote Climate Control for Peace of Mind
Imagine arriving at your vacation home and being welcomed by the perfect temperature. The ability to remotely adjust the temperature not only ensures comfort but also responds to unexpected weather changes, protecting your property from potential damage due to extreme temperatures.
Consider the scenario of planning a last-minute getaway. Instead of worrying about the temperature you’ll return to and waiting hours for it to heat up or cool down, you can adjust it from your smartphone on the way there. By the time you arrive, your vacation home will be as inviting as you imagined, creating an instant sense of relaxation.
But the advantages don’t stop there. You can respond to unexpected weather changes, ensuring your vacation home is always prepared for any climate shift. Going from a sudden heatwave to a chilly evening? No problem – simply tweak the thermostat settings to create the perfect environment, all from the palm of your hand.
Energy Efficiency and Cost Savings
Apart from the convenience, smart thermostats create customized schedules based on your habits, optimizing energy usage and reducing utility bills, making them a smart choice for both your vacation and primary homes. Traditional thermostats often involve setting a temperature and leaving it there, resulting in unnecessary energy consumption when you’re not at the property.
Energy-Efficient Thermostats for Vacation Homes, on the other hand, create customized schedules based on your habits and preferences. They learn when you’re at the vacation home and adjust the temperature accordingly. When you’re away, they scale back energy usage, optimizing efficiency without compromising comfort. The same is true for your primary residence. You should dial back the temperature in your primary home to save energy and reduce cost when you are spending time at your vacation home.
The result? Significant energy savings that translate into lower utility bills.
Choosing the Right Smart Thermostat for your Vacation Home
Selecting the right smart thermostat can be challenging, and it becomes even more complex when you’re dealing with a vacation property. Manufacturers inundate you with marketing jargon, various features, and different specifications, making it challenging to discern which thermostat will best suit your needs. Furthermore, one manufacturer might label a feature as crucial, while another brand might name it differently or offer slightly varied functionalities, complicating the comparison process.
That’s where I come in – as a vacation homeowner with a technology background who has already conducted all the necessary research for you. This post simplifies the process by comparing the key features of top contenders like the ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium, Google Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd Generation), and Honeywell Home RTH9600WF Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat.
In the side-by-side chart below I have listed the essential elements you should consider when choosing a smart thermostat for your vacation home. From remote access and compatibility to energy-saving capabilities and vacation mode settings. Following the chart, I will explore the key features of the smart thermostats in more detail to ensure you have a clear understanding of the significance of each feature.
Exploring Smart Thermostats Key Features Side-by-Side at a Glance:
Exploring Smart Thermostats Key Features in More Detail:
We’ll examine the specifics of each model, discussing their unique features, installation requirements, and how they cater to the specific needs of vacation homes.
ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium
Key Features:
- Voice Control: The ecobee Smart Thermostat premium stands out with its built-in Alexa voice control. You can control it with Siri (With Apple HomeKit) and Google Assistant (Not built-in), allowing you to check or adjust the temperature without lifting a finger. Click here for a full list of Alexa voice commands you can use on the ecobee.
- Learning Capabilities: It does not automatically learn and adjust your heating and cooling patterns. Instead, the Schedule Assistant detects patterns of occupancy over the course of the last five weeks. If those patterns do not match the schedule programmed in your thermostat, Schedule Assistant will send you an email with recommendations on updates to your home and away schedules.
- Wi-Fi Connectivity: This thermostat connects to your home’s Wi-Fi network, enabling remote control and access via the ecobee mobile app, even when you’re away from your vacation home. Supports dual band Dual-band 802.11 b/g/n @ 2.4GHz, 802.11 a/n/ac @ 5GHz.
- Remote Access and Control: The ecobee smartphone application offers a seamless interface for complete control of your vacation home’s climate through many devices, like your Smartphone, Tablet or Apple Watch. Available for both iPhone and Android devices, the app enables you to adjust temperature settings, set schedules, and even control individual room sensors. The app notifies you of sudden temperature drops that could result in frozen or burst pipes and when the system needs maintenance. The built-in Alexa voice control further amplifies the convenience, allowing you to make adjustments through voice commands from anywhere in the world. Note, that you will need to complete an online registration of your thermostat for remote access.
- Color Touchscreen: The large vibrant color touchscreen display provides an intuitive interface for easy adjustment of settings and viewing essential information. 4.09 inch diameter with 540 x 540 pixel display.
- Energy Reports: It generates monthly energy usage reports, helping you track and manage your energy consumption, which is especially valuable when your vacation home may be unoccupied for extended periods of time. You can view report by logging in to the ecobee Web Portal and selecting the HomeIQ tile. It will show an overview of how your system has been running, including its activity based on schedules, your estimated energy saved, and how your savings compare to other homes within your state. It records 18 months of data and you also have the ability to download your data in .csv format if you want to display it in Excel. IFTTT has an applet that will email a weekly summary of the thermostat activity logs. In addition, the new eco+ feature will email monthly reports to you. So, when it comes to energy reports, ecobee has you well covered.
- Geofencing: The geofencing feature adjusts the temperature based on your smartphone’s location, ensuring energy efficiency when you’re away and comfort when you’re approaching your vacation home. It natively only works for a single phone in the household and does not integrate well with the smart home/away feature. So, if one person with geofencing on their phone leaves the home while a second person is still at home, it will go into away mode.
Geofencing proves useful for short departures, but in my experience, if we haven’t visited our vacation home for days or weeks in winter, the house takes longer to warm up from 45 degrees than our 2-hour drive. So, I usually turn up the heat in the morning if we plan to drive up in the evening.
- HVAC Compatibility: It’s compatible with most 24-volt AC HVAC systems, including conventional systems, heat pumps, and dual-fuel systems.
- Room Sensors: The package includes one room sensor to adjust the thermostat according to the temperature and occupancy in a different room from where you install the thermostat. This ensures balanced heating and cooling throughout your vacation home.
It can also adjust the temperature for energy savings when you leave home and restore your comfort settings when you return. So, you will want to give some thought about which room to install the included sensor in and if additional ones would be beneficial.
Typically, you install thermostats in a home’s central main living area, like the living room, family room, or a connecting hallway. Therefore, installing the room sensor in the master bedroom or a room on the second story, if you have one, is a good idea. This is because upper-level floors tend to be colder in winter and hotter in summer.
When configuring the ecobee’s three Comfort Settings: Home, Away, and Sleep, you decide which sensors participate in each setting. The sensors include the one built-in to the thermostat. So, for example, when the thermostat is in the “Home” mode you may want both sensors to participate in controlling the temperature. In this case it will use an average of the two. In the ”Sleep” mode you may only want the master bedroom room sensor to participate so the temperature is set how you like it when sleeping.
If the original thermostat is installed in a less than ideal location such as a drafty area or a room that gets little use, you may never want to have the thermostats built-in sensor participate. It may be better to purchase a second room sensor and install it in a location that will provide a better comfort level. Without the availability of these room sensors, the only solution to a poorly located thermostat would be to run wires to a new location and patch and paint the old hole in the wall which would not be a fun job.
The system supports up to 32 sensors, each working up to 60 feet away from the thermostat. Designed exclusively for indoor use, these sensors run on a CR2477 battery with a lifespan of up to 5 years. They communicate with the thermostat using a 915MHz radio signal. The sensors also feature ‘pet immunity,’ ensuring that cats and dogs do not affect occupancy readings. You can name each sensor, for example, ‘Master Bedroom,’ ‘Living Room,’ or ‘Basement.
Using the smartphone application, you can view the temperature and occupancy status for any/all sensors. Multiple rooms sensors installed throughout the home enable the use of the “Follow Me” feature which detects which rooms are in use and adjusts the temperature accordingly for comfort in those spaces.
- Reminders and Alerts: Built-in functions to send notifications via SMS and to the email address entered during registration for HVAC maintenance reminders like when to change the furnace filter, and high/low temperature and humidity alerts.
- Occupancy Detection: The thermostat has built-in proximity and occupancy sensors. Smart Thermostat Premium uses radar to sense occupancy in the room where the thermostat is located. The sensor can detect occupancy up to 19.5 feet (6 meters) in front of it and 10 feet (3 meters) at 60 degrees to its sides.
- Freeze Avoidance: The ‘Freeze Detection’ feature automatically activates the furnace if the thermostat is set to Heat mode and the internal temperature sensor falls below 41 degrees Fahrenheit. This helps prevent pipe bursts
When this feature kicks in: the ecobee will set the thermostat itself as the only participating sensor and the ecobee will continue to ignore other room sensor temperatures until the temperature rises above 41F/5C.
This feature is enabled by default and cannot be disabled. Something to think about for vacation homes where you want to set a low temperature to reduce your energy bill when away for extended periods of time. Setting the Away temperature to 45 degrees provides a reasonable buffer where the Freeze Detection feature will only engage at 41 degrees when there is some other issue.
- High/Low Temperature Alerts: To prevent vacation home damage due to excessive heat you can set a High Temperature Alert. Temperature is measured within the thermostat itself and by room sensors. The high temperature range can be from 60 to 104 °F (15.5 to 40 °C). To prevent home damage due to freezing you can set a Low Temperature Alert. The low temperature range can be from 35 to 68 °F (1.5 to 20 °C). Alerts are sent via SMS and to the email address entered during registration.
- High/Low Humidity Alerts: To prevent vacation home damage due undesirable humidity levels you can set high/low humidity alerts. Humidity is measured within the thermostat itself (room sensors do not measure humidity). Unusually high humidity alerts could indicate that the AC is not running enough to dehumidify the air, (assuming you have AC), or a water leak. If you do not have AC, a room dehumidifier may be needed. Alerts are sent via SMS and to the email address entered during registration.
- Indoor Air Quality Monitoring: The thermostat monitors indoor air quality, allowing you to take action such as opening a widow to bring in fresh air if there are issues with air quality in your vacation home. After a calibration period when you first install the thermostat, the thermostat’s relative air quality sensor measures the levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) around your thermostat. Based on the VOC measurement, it can also estimate carbon dioxide (CO2) levels.
- Smoke Alarm Detection: With an optional Smart Security subscription, the thermostat can detect the sound of a smoke alarm and enhance the safety of your vacation home by alerting you to potential fire hazards. As of September 2023, the published cost of the “Standard” plan that enables this feature is $5/month or $50/year. The “Complete” plan allows you to add additional security sensors to alert you to possible break-ins.
- Speaker / Play Music: Voice control supports Spotify Connect, Amazon Music, TuneIn, and iHeartRadio. The speaker is small but is sufficient for playing music in the background at a low volume. The speaker is also used when responding to other Alexa voice commands such as “Alexa, what is the thermostat set to?” and “Alexa, what’s the weather outside?”. For better music sound you can pair the thermostat with a Bluetooth-enabled speaker. Click here for the instructions to pair them.
- Real-time Weather Information: Stay informed about current weather conditions at your vacation home location through real-time weather monitoring. The weather forecast is determined by the address used when you register your thermostat. The ecobee will then take several closest weather stations in your area, run an algorithm, and estimate the weather at your house (as opposed to a single location, such as an airport). This information helps to make the Smart Recovery feature more accurate.
- Smart Recovery: Over time, the thermostat will learn how long it takes your vacation home to get to a desired temperature. It considers local weather and the historical performance of your HVAC equipment. This allows it to begin heating or cooling in advance so that it reaches the desired temperature according to the scheduled time. For example, if your scheduled Away temperature is 78 degrees and the scheduled Home temperature is 72 degrees starting at 6:00PM. The air conditioning will start early enough so the temperature is 72 degrees when you arrive. Accuracy will improve over time.
- Schedules: Customize Home, Sleep, and Away schedules to align with your lifestyle and optimize energy usage.Vacation Mode: This feature allows you to schedule when you will be away to save energy and restores comfortable settings just before you return.
The term ‘Vacation Mode’ typically applies to a smart thermostat in a primary residence, letting you schedule times for when you’ll be away on vacation. Conversely, for a smart thermostat in your vacation home, the concept reverses. Consider it a ‘Non-Vacation Mode,’ where you schedule times for when you’ll be back at your primary residence.
- Smart Home and Away Settings: With Smart Home/Smart Away enabled, using occupancy sensor information, when your thermostat senses you are home during a scheduled Away period or away during a scheduled Home period, it automatically overrides your schedules by adjusting the temperature for comfort if you are home or savings if you are away.
- Integration with IFTTT: Easily integrate with other smart devices and services using IFTTT (If This Then That) for enhanced automation and customization. Click here for popular ecobee workflows and automations.
- “C” Wire Required: Yes. More detailed information about the Common “C” wire requirement is near the end of this post.
- Energy Star Certified: The ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium is Energy Star certified, which means it meets energy efficiency standards and can help you save on energy bills. Based on an internal analysis conducted in April, 2021, ecobee customers in North America saved up to 26% on their heating and cooling costs.
- Integration with Other Products: ecobee works well with various smart home ecosystems, including Apple HomeKit and SmartThings, offering flexibility for your vacation home’s ecosystem.
- Standard Warranty. 3 years.
Installation and Setup:
The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium works with most 24-volt HVAC systems, but you should use their compatibility checker to confirm support for your system before buying. This easy-to-use online tool takes you through a series of questions, examining the wires connected to your old thermostat’s faceplate.”
Installation is straightforward by following the included instructions. The ecobee app guides you through the setup process, helping you connect the thermostat to your Wi-Fi network and configure the room sensor and your preferences. The included the Power Extender Kit (PEK) can be used if your current thermostat wiring lacks a “C” wire.
You will need to complete an online registration of your thermostat for accurate weather information and remote access.
For more complex HVAC systems or if you’re unsure about installation, it’s best that you locate a trained technician to handle the task. ecobee can help find a local professional installer.
Potential Issues to Be Aware Of:
- Compatibility: Ensure that your HVAC system is compatible with the ecobee thermostat by checking the compatibility list on their website.
- Room Sensors: Although room sensors enhance comfort and efficiency, the package includes only one. Consider the additional cost if you plan to use them in multiple rooms. I highly recommend putting one in every room that normally has activity making the Smart Home and Away feature and the Follow Me feature more accurate and useful.
- Common “C” Wire Requirement: Theecobee Smart Thermostat premium Thermostat does require a “C” wire. If your existing thermostat wiring does not have one, the included the Power Extender Kit (PEK) should be used to transform existing wires into a functional “C” wire.
Why Choose the ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium for Your Vacation Home Peace of Mind:
- Safety and peace of mind: The alerts for extreme temperatures and humidity, integrated smoke alarm detector (Requires Smart Security Subscription), Freeze Avoidance, and remote control provides added peace of mind when your vacation home is unoccupied for extended periods of time.
- Remote Access and Control: The mobile app allows you to control and monitor your thermostat from anywhere, making it ideal for a vacation home that may be unoccupied for extended periods.
- Compatibility: ecobee thermostats are compatible with most 24-volt residential heating and cooling systems in North America, including gas, oil, electric, and dual-fuel systems, and it includes the Power Extender Kit (PEK) if your current thermostat wiring lacks a “C” wire.
- Room Sensors: The thermostat adjusts the temperature based on occupancy and temperature readings in various rooms, not just where it’s installed. This ensures balanced heating and cooling throughout your vacation home.
In ‘Follow Me’ mode, the ecobee prioritizes sensors in rooms with recent activity. If multiple sensors detect occupancy, the thermostat uses their average readings. Essentially, ecobee’s temperature averaging feature follows you around the home, maintaining comfort in the rooms you occupy. - Energy Efficiency: Its Schedule Assist recommendations, Smart Recovery learning capabilities, Smart Home/Smart Away feature, and extensive energy reporting help you save energy and reduce utility bills.
- Integration: ecobee’s compatibility with popular smart home platforms allows for seamless integration with your existing devices and systems.
In summary, the ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium offers a comprehensive set of features tailored to vacation homes, ensuring energy efficiency, comfort, safety, and peace of mind especially in extreme climates. Its learning capabilities, room sensors, and easy setup make it a top choice for your vacation home’s HVAC control.
Google Nest Learning Thermostat – 3rd Generation
Key Features:
- Voice Control: Google Assistant is a voice-controlled personal assistant. With it, you can give voice commands to adjust the Google Nest Learning Thermostat. You can also use voice controls with Alexa enabled devices. If you have an Amazon Echo Dot, Amazon Show, or any other Alexa-enabled device, you can easily voice-control your Nest Thermostat with them.
- Learning Capabilities: Using the “Auto-Schedule” feature, the Nest Learning Thermostat learns your temperature preferences and daily routines based on occupancy and manual adjustments you make to the temperature. Using this information, it automatically builds a schedule for you. After the thermostat is installed, it takes about 7-10 days to learn and build the schedule. Over time it will continue to analyze adjustments and modify the schedule. So rather than keeping a fixed schedule, it will continually evolve based on your habits. Heating and cooling settings are optimized for energy savings and comfort. This feature can be disabled if you prefer to build your own fixed schedule.
- Wi-Fi Connectivity: Connects to your home’s Wi-Fi network, allowing you to control it remotely via the Nest mobile app. This feature is especially useful for managing your vacation home’s temperature when you’re away. Supports dual band Dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.GHz/5GHz)
- Remote Access and Control: The Google Home app serves as the control hub for the Nest Learning Thermostat. Available on iPhone and Android platforms, the app lets you adjust temperature settings, set schedules, and monitor energy usage. The thermostat’s learning capabilities ensure that your preferences are taken into account, providing personalized comfort even when you’re away from your vacation home. Note that you will need to complete an online registration of your thermostat for remote access.
- Color Touchscreen: Features a sleek and intuitive color touchscreen display for easy programming and temperature adjustments. 2.09 inch diameter with 480×480 resolution at 229 pixels per inch. If you have the Farsight feature enabled, the thermostat display will light up when you walk into the room. If you have the Farsight feature disabled, you can choose to either have the display wake on press or wake on approach. There is an option to lock the display so that you need to enter a 4-digit code before making any changes. This would be a good option if you rent your vacation home out and don’t want anyone to change your settings.
- Energy Reports: Provides energy usage reports over the last 10 days and suggestions for energy-efficient settings, helping you track consumption and reduce energy costs. The Nest Home Report is a monthly email that summarizes your energy use, safety events, and more for the Nest products in your home. It is sent out during the first or second week of every month.
- Geofencing: Uses your smartphone’s location to detect when you’re away and adjust the temperature accordingly to save energy. Can setup multiple accounts so Geofencing works for multiple phones in the household. It integrates well with the home/away feature. So, if one person with geofencing on their phone leaves the home while Nest detects motion from a second person still at home, it will NOT go into away mode.
Geofencing proves useful for short departures, but in my experience, if we haven’t visited our vacation home for days or weeks in winter, the house takes longer to warm up from 45 degrees than our 2-hour drive. So, I usually turn up the heat in the morning if we plan to drive up in the evening
- HVAC Compatibility: Its compatible with most 24-volt AC HVAC systems, including conventional systems, heat pumps, and dual-fuel systems.
- Room Sensors: The thermostat functions effectively alone, but you can enhance its capabilities by adding up to 6 optional Nest Temperature Sensors within 50 feet of the thermostat. These sensors monitor and control room-specific temperatures, ensuring even heating and cooling. Designed solely for indoor use, they run on a CR123A battery with a lifespan of up to 2 years. Unlike ecobee’s room sensors, Nest’s sensors do not detect occupancy.
- Reminders and Alerts: Sends urgent alerts for HVAC system issues such as your heating system was on but your home failed to heat up, your A/C system was on but your home failed to cool down, or unexpected furnace shut off. Sends high/low temperature alerts via the mobile app, SMS, or email. Sends Early Warning alerts for these events: Filter changes (based on run time). Your heating system briefly stopped heating your home several times. Your A/C system briefly lost power several times. Your A/C ran longer than before.
- Occupancy Detection: The thermostat can detect occupancy in your home and adjust settings accordingly to save energy when no one is home. The sensor has a 150° wide-angle view which enables Nest to activate the Auto-Away feature. Room sensors do not have the ability to sense occupancy, so only the room where the thermostat is installed detects occupancy.
- Freeze Avoidance: The ‘Safety Temperatures’ feature protects your home in extremely cold or hot weather. When your home reaches a set temperature limit, this feature activates heating or cooling, even if you’ve set the thermostat to Off. This is particularly useful for vacation homes, helping to prevent frozen pipes or overheating.
The heating Safety Temperature is on by default to prevent your home from freezing. If you have central air conditioning, the cooling Safety Temperature is off by default. You can set Safety Temperatures on your thermostat, the Nest app, or the Home app.
If the room temperature falls below or rises above the set Safety Temperatures, your Nest thermostat will automatically start heating or cooling. You’ll receive a notification on your phone, a message in the Nest app, or an event in the Home app’s Feed. Once temperatures return to normal, you’ll get another notification to inform you. - High/Low Temperature Alerts: Yes, via the “Safety Temperatures” feature.
- High/Low Humidity Alerts: No. You cannot send alerts based on humidity thresholds but you can check the current humidity level from the app.
- Indoor Air Quality Monitoring: Not supported.
- Smoke Alarm Detection: Not supported.
- Speaker / Play Music: Not supported.
- Real-time Weather Monitoring: Farsight is a feature that lights up the thermostat display when you walk into the room. It can display the room temperature, local weather, or time. The local weather is based on the registered location of the thermostat. The Google Nest Help Center implies that www.weather.com is used to obtain the weather.
- Smart Recovery: The “Early-On” feature starts to heat or cool before the scheduled time so your home reaches the desired temperature at the scheduled time. This only works when someone is at home. After installation, your thermostat takes a few days to learn how long it takes for your home to heat and cool. Once your thermostat is done learning, it can start to pre-heat and pre-cool according to your Early-On settings.
- Schedules: Manually create custom heating and cooling schedules based on your vacation plans and preferences or enable the “Auto-Schedule” feature to automatically build a schedule for you. For vacation homes which may be unoccupied for extended periods of time and have more irregular usage patterns, the accuracy of the auto-built schedule may be questionable. For this reason, you may want to manually create your schedules.
- Vacation Mode: You use the Nest app to simply put the thermostat into the “away” mode which will set the temperature to your defined Eco temperature range. The term ‘Vacation Mode’ typically applies to a smart thermostat in a primary residence, letting you schedule times for when you’ll be away on vacation. Conversely, for a smart thermostat in your vacation home, the concept reverses. Consider it a ‘Non-Vacation Mode,’ where you schedule times for when you’ll be back at your primary residence.
- Smart Home and Away Settings: The “Home/Away Assist” feature will change the thermostat to Away mode if it determines that no one is home. It checks for occupancy two different ways.
- It uses the occupancy sensor that’s built into the thermostat.
- It uses Geofencing to determine the location of all phones that are defined to the account. If all phones are outside of your home zone, it will change to the Away mode and use your defined Eco Temperature range.
- IFTTT Integration: Easily integrate with other smart devices and services using IFTTT (If This Then That) for enhanced automation and customization. Click here for popular workflows and automations.
- “C” Wire Required: Nest thermostats are designed to work without a “C” wire in most homes, but I don’t recommend it. See the “Potential Issues to Be Aware Of” section. More detailed information about the Common “C” wire requirement is near the end of this post.
- Energy Star Certified: The Nest Learning Thermostat is Energy Star certified, which means it meets energy efficiency standards and can help you save on energy bills. The Nest Learning Thermostat was the first thermostat to get ENERGY STAR certified. It can learn what temperature you like and build a custom schedule. Independent studies showed that it saved people an average of 10% to 12% on heating bills and 15% on cooling bills. So in under two years, it can pay for itself.
- Integration with Other Products: Works seamlessly with the Google Assistant, Google Home, and other Nest smart home devices such as the Nest Protect Smoke + CO detector and Nest Cam. for comprehensive home automation.
- Standard Warranty: 2 Years.
Installation and Setup:
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd Gen) works with most 24-volt AC HVAC systems, but you should use their compatibility checker to confirm if it supports your system before buying. This easy-to-use online tool leads you through a series of questions, examining the wires connected to your old thermostat’s faceplate.
You can usually complete the installation by following the provided instructions. The Nest mobile app guides you through the setup process, including connecting the thermostat to your Wi-Fi network and configuring your preferences. You will need to complete an online registration of your thermostat for accurate weather information and remote access.
After its installed, it takes about a week or so to learn your heating and cooling routines and preferences. If you’re unsure about installation, it’s best that you locate a trained technician to handle the task.
Potential Issues to Be Aware Of:
- Learning Capabilities: The “Auto-Schedule” feature which automatically builds a schedule for you based on patterns of occupancy is one of the most powerful capabilities which sets it apart from other smart thermostats. However, for vacation homes which may be unoccupied for extended periods of time and have more irregular usage patterns, the accuracy of the auto-built schedule may be diminished.
- Compatibility: Ensure that your specific HVAC system is compatible with the Nest Learning Thermostat by checking the compatibility list on the Nest website.
- Room Sensors: The thermostat functions effectively by itself, but you can add up to 6 optional Nest Temperature Sensors. Since no sensors come included, remember to account for the additional cost if you plan to use them in multiple rooms.
Unlike the ecobee room sensors, the Nest sensors do not detect occupancy so they cannot assist in making the Home/Away Assist” feature more accurate and useful. Their function is to monitor and control the temperature in specific rooms, ensuring even heating and cooling. - Common “C” Wire Requirement: Although Nest thermostats are designed to work without a “C” wire in most homes, I don’t recommend it. In a system with a “C” wire, the Nest constantly gets the power it needs and charges its battery from the “C” wire’s current. In a system without a “C” wire, Nest only recharges its battery when the heating or cooling runs. It diverts a little bit of the power to itself to charge its battery. This may work in a home that’s occupied most of the time but in a vacation home that can be unoccupied for long periods of time and the heating or cooling runs less often, or not at all, it can be a problem. My neighbor installed a Nest Thermostat without a “C” in their vacation home and it worked most of the time. Other times, they experienced strange behaviors like the furnace short cycling (turning on and off) and the A/C compressor clicking. Installing a “C” wire fixed the problems. Save yourself a lot of potential grief and purchase the optional Nest Power Connector to transform existing wires into a functional “C” wire.
Why Choose the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd Gen) for Your Vacation Home Peace of Mind:
- Safety and peace of mind: The Safety Temperature alerts for extreme temperatures, Freeze Avoidance, and remote access and control provides added peace of mind when your vacation home is unoccupied for extended periods of time.
- Remote Access and Control: The mobile app allows you to control and monitor your thermostat from anywhere, making it ideal for a vacation home that may be unoccupied for extended periods
- Compatibility: Google Nest thermostats are designed to work with most 24 V systems. They work with all common fuel types including natural gas, oil, and electricity. Google states that it works with 95% of all systems.
- Energy Efficiency: The Thermostat is Energy Star certified. Energy reports and suggestions help you make informed decisions to reduce energy consumption and costs.
- Integration: If you want to stay within the Google Nest ecosystem which integrates with other Google Nest products and popular smart home platforms, enhancing automation and control options.
In summary, the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd Gen) is a feature-rich and energy-efficient option for your vacation home. Its learning capabilities, remote control, and compatibility with various HVAC systems make it a reliable choice for maintaining comfort and saving energy in your vacation home.
Honeywell Home RTH9600WF Smart Color Thermostat
Key Features:
- Voice Control: Works with voice assistants like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Microsoft Cortana for convenient hands-free temperature adjustments.
- Learning Capabilities: Not supported.
- Wi-Fi Connectivity: Connects to your home’s Wi-Fi network, allowing you to control and monitor your thermostat remotely through the Honeywell Home mobile app, a valuable feature for a vacation home. Supports 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 2.4GHz range.
- Remote Access and Control: Honeywell’s Total Connect Comfort app grants you remote access and control of the RTH9600WF thermostat through both iPhone and Android devices. You must register online and create an account. The app allows you to adjust temperature settings, set schedules, and access energy usage reports. While lacking learning capabilities, it offers straightforward control to ensure your vacation home is comfortable upon your arrival.
- Color Touchscreen: The Honeywell Home RTH9600WF features a vibrant color touchscreen display, making it easy to navigate and program temperature settings. You can customize your thermostat displays by selecting predefined themes or custom background color and text to match your décor.
- Energy Reports: Track your heating and cooling with Emailed monthly energy reports and get personalized tips on reducing energy use.
- Geofencing: Not supported.
- HVAC Compatibility: It’s compatible with most common 24-volt systems such as forced air, hydronic, heat pump, oil, gas, and electric. It will not work with 120 / 240-volt systems such as baseboard electric heat.
- Room Sensors: Not supported.
- Reminders and Alerts: Receive email maintenance reminders like when to change the furnace filter and trouble alerts for internet connection issues. These must be configured in the Total Connect Comfort portal. Up to six email addresses can be linked to a specific location to receive email alerts.
- Occupancy Detection: No, the thermostat does no detect motion.
- Freeze Avoidance: You can setup a low temperature alert and upon receiving, use the app to increase the heat.
- High and Low Temperature Alerts: Get email notifications if the temperature level exceeds a high or low threshold helping to protect your vacation home from potential damage. These must be configured in the Total Connect Comfort portal. Up to six email addresses can be linked to a specific location to receive email alerts.
- High/Low Humidity Alerts: Get email notifications if the humidity level exceeds a high or low threshold helping to protect your vacation home from potential damage. These must be configured in the Total Connect Comfort portal. Up to six email addresses can be linked to a specific location to receive email alerts.
- Indoor Air Quality Monitoring: Not supported.
- Smoke Alarm Detection: Not supported.
- Speaker / Play Music: Not supported.
- Real-time Weather Monitoring: It displays the local temperature and humidity based on the registered location of the thermostat.
- Smart Response Technology: This feature enables the thermostat to ‘learn’ the time your heating/cooling system needs to bring your vacation home to programmed temperatures. As a result, it reaches the desired temperature right when you set it. This ensures your home is at the perfect temperature upon your arrival, with accuracy improving over time. You can disable this feature if you prefer the heating or cooling to start exactly at your set time, though it may take a while to reach the desired temperature.
- Schedules: Manually customize 7-day Wake, Leave, Return, and Sleep heating and cooling schedules to suit your vacation home’s needs and adapt them easily as your plans change. This thermostat does not automatically learn your routines to create the schedules.
- Vacation Mode: This feature allows you to schedule when you will be away to save energy, and restores comfortable settings just before you return home using the Smart Response Technology. The term ‘Vacation Mode’ typically applies to a smart thermostat in a primary residence, letting you schedule times for when you’ll be away on vacation. Conversely, for a smart thermostat in your vacation home, the concept reverses. Consider it a ‘Non-Vacation Mode,’ where you schedule times for when you’ll be back at your primary residence.
- Smart Home / Away Settings: No. It does not sense occupancy.
- IFTTT Integration: Yes. Integrate Honeywell Total Connect Comfort with over 800 of your favorite apps & devices to unlock powerful automations on IFTTT. Click here for popular workflows and automations.
- “C” Wire Required: Yes. More detailed information about the Common “C” wire requirement is below.
- Energy Star Certified: Yes
- Integration with Other Products: While not as extensive as some other smart thermostats, the Honeywell Home RTH9600WF can integrate with other smart home devices, enhancing automation capabilities.
- Standard Warranty: 2 Years
Installation and Setup:
You can usually complete the installation by following the provided instructions, which guide you through the process. Use the mobile app to connect the thermostat to your Wi-Fi network and configure its settings. To access accurate weather information and remote control features, you must register your thermostat online.
If you’re uncertain about installation, professional assistance is available. Honeywell can assist with this. Click here for more information.
Potential Issues to Be Aware Of:
- Voice Control: While it offers voice control with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, the integration may not be as seamless or feature-rich as dedicated smart home systems.
- Integration: While it can integrate with other smart devices, the range of compatible products may be more limited compared to some other smart thermostats.
- Room Sensors: While the thermostat works well on its own, more precise room-by-room control is not possible. Room sensors are not available.
- Common “C” Wire Requirement: TheHoneywell Home RTH9600WF Smart Color Thermostat does require a “C” wire. If your existing thermostat wiring does not have one, you will need to purchase the Honeywell C-Wire Power Adapter to transform existing wires into a functional “C” wire.
- Honeywell vs Resideo: This is not really an issue but it does create confusion. Honeywell spun off its home division into an independent company called Resideo which creates Honeywell products as a licensed brand. So, you may find the names Honeywell and Resideo used interchangeably which can be confusing but they’re essentially the same!
Why Choose the Honeywell Home RTH9600WF Smart Color Thermostat for Your Vacation Home Peace of Mind:
- Safety and peace of mind: The alerts for extreme temperatures and humidity and remote control provides added peace of mind when your vacation home is unoccupied for extended periods of time.
- Remote Control: With Wi-Fi connectivity and the Honeywell Home app, you can control your thermostat from anywhere, which is crucial for managing a vacation home.
- Ease of Use: The color touchscreen display and intuitive interface make it user-friendly, even for those new to smart thermostats.
- Compatibility: It’s compatible with most 24-volt AC HVAC systems, including conventional systems, heat pumps, and dual-fuel systems.
- Energy Efficiency: Energy reports and scheduling options help you optimize energy usage, saving money on utility bills.
In summary, the Honeywell Home RTH9600WF Smart Color Thermostat is a reliable option for managing the temperature and energy usage in your vacation home. Its user-friendly interface, remote control capabilities, and compatibility with various HVAC systems make it a suitable choice for maintaining comfort and energy efficiency while you’re away from your vacation home.
More About the Common “C” Wire Requirement for Smart Thermostats:
A “C” wire, or common wire, provides 24-Volts AC of continuous power to smart thermostats to ensure consistent operation and prevent battery drain. While not all smart thermostats require a “C” wire, it’s highly recommended for optimal performance, especially in vacation homes where reliable functionality is essential. The “C” wire allows your thermostat to maintain its Wi-Fi connection and power all features, including remote access and control.
Older “dumb” thermostats do not require a “C” wire because they do not need continuous power. So, when they were installed, it’s possible that only a 2-wire (heat only) or 4-wire (heat and AC) cable was used. Each wire is a different color and the following color code is considered standard practice:
1. G-wire – Signal to turn on the fan (usually the green wire).
2. R-wire – 24 VAC power (usually the red wire).
3. Y-wire – Signal to turn on cooling (usually the yellow wire).
4. W-wire – Signal to turn on the heating (usually the white wire).
If a 5-wire cable was installed, you are in luck. It can be used for the “C” or Common
5. C-wire – Common wire for continuous power, usually the black or blue wire.
While using these colors as a standard practice is common, it is important not to rely on them blindly. There might be instances where the specific color wire was not available, leading to the use of a different colored wire as a substitute.
Addressing the “C” Wire Requirement:
For homeowners without an existing “C” wire, all 3 thermostats offer a solution to transforms existing wires into a functional “C” wire to simplify the installation process, eliminate the need for additional wiring, and enhances the compatibility of your chosen thermostat.
If you consider other thermostats that don’t include their own solution, the Fast-STAT Common Maker product from Nordic Technology is a universal solution that offers similar functionality. Although these solutions should be easy to install, unless you are a DIYer or have any doubts, it’s best that you to let a trained technician handle the task.
Smart Thermostat Recommendations: (In my order of preference)
Ultimately, you should choose a solution that aligns with your specific needs and preferences. By selecting a solution based on your requirements, you invest in a reliable, convenient, and innovative system. This ensures your vacation home’s climate control is always optimized and hassle-free.
All three thermostats feature user-friendly interfaces with intuitive touchscreen controls, along with remote access and control capabilities.
- ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium: If you prioritize a large screen, extensive integration options, and comprehensive features like indoor air quality monitoring, smoke alarm detection, and temperature and humidity alerting, the ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium is a top pick for your vacation home. It’s particularly suitable for those who want a more fully integrated smart home system.
- Google Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd Gen): For those looking for a balance between simplicity and smart functionality, the Google Nest Learning Thermostat is a strong contender. Choose the Nest thermostat if you value a sleek design, advanced learning capabilities, and easy integration within the Google ecosystem. It offers reliable remote control and energy efficiency features.
- Honeywell Home RTH9600WF: If you prefer a straightforward, easy-to-use thermostat with a user-friendly display and controls, the Honeywell Home thermostat is a good option. It’s ideal for those who want a simple yet effective solution without advanced learning capabilities.
Final Thoughts on Smart Thermostats for Vacation Homes
With vacation home ownership, a smart thermostat is not a luxury – it’s a necessity. Smart thermostats offer a seamless solution, granting you the power to control the temperature of your vacation home from anywhere in the world. The convenience of remote access, combined with energy efficiency, cost savings, and peace of mind makes them an indispensable addition to your property.
Choose a model that aligns with your specific needs and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with advanced home automation.
Based on extensive research and my experience, the ecobee Smart Thermostat with Voice Control combined with the included Power Extender Kit (PEK), creates an exceptional solution. Its built-in Alexa voice control, temperature and humidity alerting, and included room sensor ensure enhanced convenience and comfort. It provides the ultimate level in vacation home peace of mind. This is the solution that I will install when it’s time to replace my old legacy HAI Omnistat thermostat, which is a “not so smart” thermostat.
My Omnistat better fits the description of a WiFi-connected thermostat. Its intelligence comes from a hardwired connection to my OMNI security and automation system, along with custom code I wrote. This code tracks and gathers information from indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity sensors, as well as security motion detectors, using timers and flags. It accomplishes what I wanted at the time but as I write this, I know it’s near the end of its life. Time to let it go!
